Neoplastic skin lesions in the elderly patient

Abstract

As the proportion of the aged in the US population increases, so does the burden of cutaneous disease [1]. Cutaneous diseases of the elderly represent significant morbidity, with many patients having multiple conditions [2]. Hyperproliferative disorders of the skin are strongly associated with exposure to solar radiation and are commonly present in older adults [3]. Although nonmalignant growths are far more common than malignant ones, skin cancers represent about 6% of all dermatology visits [4]. The prevalence of cutaneous malignancies increases with age [5] (Table 55.1). © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.